ENTERPRISE, Ore. - The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife today announced the closure of the spring chinook fisheries on the Wallowa River at sundown on Sunday, Aug. 7 and on the Snake River at sundown on Wednesday, Aug. 10.

Both closures were recommended because catch rates have fallen off and the quality of the fish being caught has declined.

“We’ve squeezed as much angler opportunity as we can from these fisheries, and it’s remarkable we’re still salmon fishing in August” said Jeff Yanke, ODFW district fish biologist in Enterprise. “But with lower flows in the Wallowa, we expect salmon have moved out of the fishery area and are now staging to spawn”.

The closure of chinook fishing on the Snake is concurrent with fishery closures ordered by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game.

Chinook fisheries this year were affected by near-record snowpack that kept rivers high.

“Despite the tough conditions early in the season, we’re happy so many anglers were able to take advantage of the strong salmon runs this year”, said Yanke.

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